Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Educators frustrated with No Child Left Behind likely won't see changes until the nation's next president takes office.
Although the federal mandate became eligible for reauthorization in January, political disagreements have ruled out a 2007 change.
And considering the lack of accomplishments in past presidential election years, 2008 probably won't bring change either.
"In election years, nothing passes. I'm not saying that it won't pass. But they can't even get a farm bill passed," said U.S. Congressman Sam Graves, who represents Northwest Missouri, in St. Joseph Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. Graves met with about 15 local school district administrators at the St. Joseph School District's Troester Media Center to discuss the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, which aims to bring all students' math and reading test scores to proficient levels by 2014. Test score goals rise each year.
A reauthorization that comes with changes educators consider as more fair has gained support with national lawmakers. So Mr. Graves' talk of a stall disappointed the administrators.
"We hoped that this year would bring reauthorization with changes," said Dr. Melody Smith, St. Joseph's superintendent.
Mr. Graves supports three changes, which area educators also support.
The three changes, which Mr. Graves says "could solve most of the problems we have in Missouri," are:
He thinks special education students' performance should be based on their individual education plans (IEPs) rather than grade level tests. Many local districts face federal funding punishments because their special education students haven't met test goals.
He supports tracking individual students' progress from year to year instead of comparing this year's sixth-grade to last year's sixth-grade, for example.
Mr. Graves thinks school districts that miss a test goal in one category, such as special education students' scores, should face less harsh punishments than districts that miss the mark in many categories.
Mr. Graves said he's optimistic lawmakers will reauthorize the mandate with changes.
It's just a matter of when.
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